The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-12-07
THE NEW SCANDINAVIA.

THERE are to-day iu the United
States about one and three-quarter
millions Scandinavians. or this
l,750,0G0 about half were born In the
three kindred Scandinavian countries
of Sweden, Norway and Denmark; the
other half are their children, born in
this country.
There are some noticeable features
connected with Scandinavian immi-
grafton to America.
The official immigration records of
this country begin in 1920 During
the GO years from 1920 to 1880 there
came from Scandinavia but 100000
out of total European immigration
of 10,600,000 But since 1880, about
100000 Scandinavians have come
across the sea. The past seven years
have seen a larger immigration of
Scandinavians to the United States
than the preceding sixty years.
Sweden has about 4, 100000 inhabit-
ants; Norway about 100000, and
Denmark about 100000; so that the
proportion OF Scandinavian immi-
grants is at present greater than that
of any other European country.
or the present Scandinavian popu-
latiOn here there about $4,000 Swedes,
625,OOO Norwegians, and 250,OOO Danes.
With only one-fortieth of the popu-
latiOn of Europe, the countries OF
Sweden, Norway and Denmark have,
in the past seven years, sent one
eighth of the entire number OF Euro
pean immigrants to the United States.
That is, 215 per cent. of Europe's pop
ulation has In that time sent 1212 per
cent. of the total European immigra-
ton.
The scandinavians have concen-
trated in the northwest, and there are
areas in that section OF the American
Union that have a denser Scandina-
Wan population than parts of the
Scandinavian peninsula itself. OF
the cities, Minneapolis and Chicago
are notable illustrations OF the truth
OF this assertion. There are more
than G0,000 Scandinavians in the city
Of Minneapolis; more than $4,000 in
Chicago: more than 10000 in St.
Paul.
One-third of the population of Min
nesota and Dakota, one-sixth that of
Illinois and Wisconsin, and a large
percentage of the population of Kan
sas, Nebraska, Michigan, Oregon and
Washington, come from the king
doms OF the Baltic.
They come for the same reason that
impels SO many millions to look west
ward across the Atlantic-to better
their condition, and they are general
ly successful.
The Scandinavians are a hearty,
manly race on whom the yoke of home
monarchy has borne lightly, and who
make good citizens of the American
republic. They almost unanimously
believe in American ideas, become
American citizens, take prominent
part i'll politics and government, work
hard and intelligently and accumulate
property. BY reason of this they
form a valuable addition to our ma
ton and have in this new western
world a bright future.
Sometime. in the next century may
be, will begin to be developed the
typical American, the man, who, made
up Of the best of the traits of all who
have come here from the old coun-
tries. will be in every sense American.
In him will unite that which deserves
to survive OF the NorSeman. the Sax
on, the Celt, the Teuton and the
Latin, and when that typical Ameri-
can does appear he will have in his
makeup considerable of the industry.
thrift and common sense that so
strongly mark the Scandinavian i'm
migrants of our day.